Chapter 477

At the first quarter of the You hour (around 5:00 PM),

the sun was slanting west.

Chai family,

Qiusheng Garden,

the rose-red pomegranate flowers in the courtyard under the veranda were in full bloom.

The warm summer breeze blew,

and the flowers and emerald-green leaves swayed gently together.

On the veranda by the pomegranate tree,

a noble young lady dressed in appropriate spring attire walked in a hurry, her skirt fluttering, passing by the pomegranate tree with her Mama and maids.

"Da Niangzi, slow down! Didn't you say just now that there was nothing to listen to?"

After the Mama behind Chai Zhengzheng finished speaking, the corners of the mouths of the several maids following behind all lifted up.

Chai Zhengzheng, walking in front, didn't stop her steps: "I... I heard that Big Brother bought me something."

"Oh! Then we must be fast, lest the Second Young Master snatches it away."

After the Mama finished speaking, she smiled and followed Chai Zhengzheng's steps.

Madam Chai's courtyard,

Chai Zhengzheng slowed down at the moon gate entering the courtyard.

"Da Niangzi is here."

The little maid at the door saw the visitor and announced.

The little maid lifted the door curtain, and after Chai Zhengzheng stepped into the room, she smiled and bowed in salute:

"Mother, Brother."

Chai Bo sat on a chair with great interest, listening happily.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng, Chai Bo nodded to his younger sister with a smile, his eyes turned, and he said: "Big Brother, I didn't hear clearly just now, are you saying that you and Jing Ge'er left the side room and went to the central courtyard where the stalls were? That change happened there?"

Chai Jin nodded with a smile: "Yes!"

Madam Chai sat in the upper seat, blowing on the tea cup emitting hot air in her hand, and glanced at her daughter, who seemed uninterested and was sitting on a chair picking at golden apricots to eat.

"And then!" Chai Bo asked.

Chai Jin learned from Madam Chai, picked up the tea cup, took a sip, stretched for a while, and said: "Then, we strolled around the central courtyard and met someone."

"Who? Big Brother, hurry up and tell me!"

Chai Zhengzheng held the golden apricot in her hand, her eyes full of admiration as she looked at her second brother Chai Bo.

Chai Jin placed the tea cup on the table:

"I heard that person was a clerk from the Imperial City Division named Gao, looking so sweaty from anxiety..."

"We followed him, and as a result, just as we arrived at the side gate of the central courtyard, that Master Gao looked back at us and shouted for someone outside the courtyard to run!"

Chai Zhengzheng couldn't care about eating the golden apricot and said in surprise: "Ah? Why is that?"

Chai Jin said: "We were curious too! We walked over and took a look... that person, sister, you have seen him too!"

Chai Zhengzheng looked blank: "Who?"

"The young Master Zhang from Beizhou who visited our house! The one who shot arrows at Jing Ge'er outside the city before!"

"Oh~ so it's him!" Chai Zhengzheng lowered her face and nodded.

"Seeing this person, Jing Ge'er, who was beside me, immediately walked quickly toward the outside!" Chai Jin said.

"Did he hit him hard?" Chai Zhengzheng asked hurriedly.

Before Chai Jin could answer, Chai Zhengzheng continued: "That day, he and Gu Yuan Erlang were chased and killed from the east of the city to the north of the city; that's a deep grudge!"

Chai Jin shook his head: "Jing Ge'er didn't strike."

Chai Zhengzheng: "Ah? How could that be?"

Chai Jin said:

"Just two steps after Jing Ge'er went out the side gate, he was grabbed by the arms, legs, and waist by that Master Gao and five or six of his subordinates, one on each side. Dragging and pulling, they allowed the young Master Zhang to escape."

"Sister, you didn't see it, the way Jing Ge'er dragged five or six big men forward by himself, he really has ability. If it were me... it would be a bit strenuous!"

Chai Bo glanced at his elder brother: "Cough, cough!"

Chai Jin glanced at his younger sister in embarrassment, then glared fiercely at Chai Bo.

Afterward, Chai Jin looked at the golden apricot in Chai Zhengzheng's hand and smiled:

"And I noticed that if Jing Ge'er hadn't been afraid of hurting the Imperial City Division clerks who were holding him for dear life, young Master Zhang probably wouldn't have been able to run."

"Big Brother, why is that?" Chai Bo turned his head to look at Chai Zhengzheng and asked.

Chai Jin said: "Before Jing Ge'er was grabbed, he threw the apricot he was holding with force, hitting young Master Zhang right on the head."

Chai Bo picked up a somewhat hard apricot from the fruit plate in front of him, tapped it against his forehead, and gasped: "Hiss! It is a bit painful."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled as she looked at the fruit pit under the apricot flesh she had bitten open.

Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

below the Imperial City,

outside the side room where the guards lived,

Gao Yunqing stood dejectedly in front of Zhao Meifeng, covered in dust, with a row of subordinates standing behind him, also covered in dust and with their heads bowed.

"Ugh~"

Listening to the sound of someone vomiting inside the room,

Zhao Meifeng stretched out his hand and pointed hatefully in front of Gao Yunqing: "I say Gao Yunqing, have you spent the last ten years in the Imperial City Division in vain? You can't even handle a small matter like guarding a person? Ah!? How could you let him and Jing Ge'er meet?"

"Chief, it's not that Head Gao didn't put his heart into it, we..."

The subordinate behind him had just said one sentence when Gao Yunqing turned his head and reprimanded:

"Shut up!"

The subordinate shut his mouth sheepishly.

Zhao Meifeng glanced sideways at the disheveled soldiers and said to Gao Yunqing: "Fortunately, you were clever and used your bodies together to drag Jing Ge'er, otherwise if the person inside were really crippled or dead, you would have had a hard time!"

"Creak~"

The door opened,

and Yu Huguang walked out with a medicine box on his back.

Zhao Meifeng hurriedly walked over: "Little Medical Officer Yu, how is young Master Zhang?"

Yu Huguang looked at Zhao Meifeng and bowed: "Chief Zhao, this young Master Zhang has a scalp abrasion and a concussion; there is nothing else serious. After taking medicine and resting for a period of time, he will recover."

"That's good, that's good!"

Zhao Meifeng breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Little Medical Officer Yu!"

Yu Huguang nodded, hesitated to speak, and said: "It's just..."

"Just what?" Zhao Meifeng asked.

"The medicine might be a bit bitter." Yu Huguang said.

"Understood, understood." Zhao Meifeng nodded repeatedly.

Yu Huguang said goodbye and left. Watching Yu Huguang's back, Zhao Meifeng looked at the side room and shook his head: "Medicine is bitter? How bitter can it be?"

"Alright, get back to the Yamen! Change your clothes properly."

"Yes, Chief."

Gao Yunqing and the others bowed and responded.

Watching his subordinates leave,

Zhao Meifeng shook his head and turned to walk into the palace.

Inside Consort Rong's bedroom,

the Emperor sat behind the table set with food, listening to the report of the Great Eunuch with a frown.

"Just this? Only contusions and a concussion?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, just this."

"Hmph, truly daring. My own guards, he hits them whenever he wants! This is outrageous!"

The Great Eunuch bowed to the side without speaking.

Consort Rong on the side smiled and smoothed the Emperor's back:

"Your Majesty, calm your anger! The Xu family young master is a noble son of a Marquis and is young and vigorous. Having been chased and shot at for so long before, it is inevitable that he would have some resentment in his heart."

"And, Your Majesty, you know, Jing Ge'er, in Bai Gao, no matter how difficult and dangerous it was, he was a team chasing and killing tens of thousands of Bai Gao people. When has he ever suffered such grievances?"

After Consort Rong finished speaking, the Emperor took a deep breath and turned his head: "Hmph!"

Consort Rong smiled, picked up a piece of food for the Emperor, and continued: "With Jing Ge'er's ability, if he really let go of all scruples and became ruthless, your concubine feels that it wouldn't be something that a team of soldiers from the Imperial City Division could block!"

The Emperor gave Consort Rong an annoyed glance, but his heart softened for no reason.

Consort Rong looked similar to the Emperor's former favorite concubine, Consort Zhang, but Consort Rong and Consort Zhang were completely different types of people.

Consort Rong came from the marketplace, was intelligent, quick-witted, and sharp-tongued.

Consort Zhang came from a high-ranking family of the Great Zhou and had a natural, innocent, and reserved noble demeanor.

But after entering the palace, under the influence of the sea of gold and silver, Consort Rong's demeanor became increasingly graceful and luxurious, and the combination had a unique charm.

"Hmph! If it weren't for his father and brother rendering meritorious service to the country, I would have already given this kid a piece of my mind."

"Your Majesty is benevolent."

"Someone!"

The Great Eunuch bowed and responded: "Your Majesty."

"Send someone to reprimand the Xu family kid. Before the provincial examination, except for going to the Sheng family to study, he is not allowed to run around elsewhere!"

"As you command."

Quyuanjie,

a lantern hung at the entrance of the Zou family courtyard.

Under the lantern,

Chu Zhan scratched his head in embarrassment and said to the woman opposite: "Madam Zou, this is a big fish I bought at the Qiao family's aquatic shop. Do you think you can pickle it into the previous dried fish?"

After speaking, Chu Zhan also glanced at Zou Xiao Mei, who looked unconvinced and was looking at him sideways with a spoiled air.

Madam Zou smiled, looked at the fish, and said: "Just leave it to me."

After speaking, Madam Zou pushed Zou Xiao Mei, who was beside her: "Go aside."

"Sister~"

Zou Xiao Mei said coquettishly.

Chu Zhan smiled secretly, handed over the big fish on the string, and said: "Thank you, Madam. I will send you the salt later."

Madam Zou nodded.

At this moment,

"Clang~"

A gong sound came.

Chu Zhan hurriedly looked toward the street entrance.

Zou Xiao Mei also stepped over the threshold, leaned her head out to look at the line of golden-armored guards, and said: "What are they doing?"

"Eunuchs from the palace, they should be coming to the Hou Fu." Chu Zhan replied.

"Oh!" Zou Xiao Mei and her sister, who was holding the big fish, nodded.

Soon,

"Creak~"

The middle gate of the Marquis Yongyi's residence opened,

and the group from the palace entered the Hou Fu.

In the front hall of the Hou Fu,

in the bright yellow candlelight,

the Great Eunuch who came from the palace smiled at Xu Minghua, bowed, and said: "Xu Hou, Madam, this is the Emperor's oral decree, please rise."

"Your subject/Your subject's wife, accepts the decree."

Xu Minghua and Madam Sun bowed with their son and daughter-in-law and said.

Helping the couple up,

Xu Minghua said: "Eunuch, is it just to let this rebellious son go to the Sheng family to study and not run around?"

As he spoke, Xu Minghua glanced at Xu Zaijing at the very back.

The Great Eunuch nodded with a smile and said: "Yes, that's all, there is nothing else."

"Consort Rong knows that Jing Ge'er feels aggrieved in his heart, but the Consort said that the Emperor is doing this for Jing Ge'er's own good!"

"The Consort also picked some good materials like gauze and silk useful for summer from her private treasury, and let the embroiderers of the Hou Fu see what to make!"

Xu Minghua and Madam Sun said: "Thank you, Consort."

Xu Zaijing behind them bowed in salute.

The Great Eunuch supported the Xu Hou couple,

looked at Xu Zaijing with an even more smiling face, and said: "Fifth Young Master, before I left the palace, the Prince stopped me and said that it will be hot in a few days, and ordered me to send this slip from the Ice Well Office to Jing Ge'er. From now on, when the residence needs ice, just go directly to the Ice Well Office to collect it."

"Thank you, Prince."

Xu Zaijing bowed and arched his hands.

The Great Eunuch flicked his horsetail whisk and bowed slightly.

"Alright, Xu Hou, Madam, then I will take my leave."

"I will see the Eunuch off."

The Great Eunuch waved his hand and said: "Xu Hou, you are too polite, let Fifth Young Master see me off."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing stepped forward and bowed:

"Eunuch, please."

The Great Eunuch smiled at the Xu Hou couple, Madam Xie, Hualan, and others, and turned to leave.

On the way out of the residence,

the Great Eunuch looked at Xu Zaijing, who was half a step behind him, and whispered: "Fifth Young Master, the Prince said that you should still prioritize the imperial examination. That Zhang family Pan Ge'er's official career can be seen to the end at a glance, why do you need to be angry with him and provoke the Emperor's displeasure in vain?"

"I understand, thank you Prince, thank you Eunuch."

The Great Eunuch nodded with a smile.

In the evening,

inside the palace,

below the Imperial City,

in the guard barracks,

an attendant brought a bowl of medicine and walked in: "Young Master, time for medicine."

Being helped up while dizzy, Zhang Shipan looked at the medicine soup in the bowl brought to him, only feeling the medicinal smell rushing toward his face.

Zhang Shipan frowned, suppressed the nausea in his throat, endured the discomfort, took a sip, and then his whole face twisted in bitterness: "Ugh~"

"Water! Water! Ugh~"

After rinsing his mouth several times, Zhang Shipan, who only felt his mouth numb with bitterness, looked at the medicine bowl in the attendant's hand and said: "This, what is this thing? Is this for humans to drink!?"

"Young Master, this is a prescription from the most powerful Golden-Purple Medical Officer in the palace, please take another sip."

Zhang Shipan: "You bunch of thieves!"

A few days later,

Guanghua Ward,

Shen family,

the wedding date of the Shen family's legitimate son is approaching,

and the entire Shen family residence is full of joy.

Shen family backyard,

in the Tingxuan Pavilion,

Shen Hezhen, who had been in the capital for some days, was chatting and laughing like a little adult with the daughters of the father's colleagues and civil officials who came to visit.

"Oh! That wicked youth of the Xu family was ordered by the Emperor to go study, Bianjing City can finally have some peaceful days."

Shen Hezhen put down the fruit in her hand, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and looked at the noble young lady who was speaking in confusion.

The fifth young lady of the Li family, who was eating snails, paused her gentle chewing movements and continued eating without saying anything.

Hai Chaoyun, sitting next to Shen Hezhen, turned her head to the back, and her maid Miss Zhu Jian leaned to her ear and said:

"Da Niangzi, the one speaking is the third legitimate daughter of Master Shen Zhi, the Prefect of Jiangling. Madam Shen is related to the Han family of the Marquis of Zhennan, and the Marquis of Zhennan and the Duke of Han are of the same generation."

After Miss Zhu Jian finished speaking and checked in a low voice with Baoxiu on the other side, Baoxiu leaned over and said: "Da Niangzi Shen and Da Niangzi Shen are both new to the capital."

Hai Chaoyun nodded slightly and smiled: "Third Sister Shen, where did you hear about this 'wicked youth'?"

Shen Hezhen nodded.

Other official wives and noble young ladies were mostly whispering to each other.

The third young lady of the Shen family laughed:

"Sister Chaoyun, I heard it from several cousins of the Duke of Han and the Marquis of Zhongshan!"

After speaking, she added:

"Hezhen, you haven't been in the capital long so you don't know, but the other sisters who have been here for a long time definitely know! This wicked youth of the Xu family does evil in Bianjing, either fighting with noble sons in the capital or brawling with foreign envoys, and he even dared to provoke the Jin people."

"I heard that when the Shenbao Temple had a disaster two years ago, this wicked youth of the Xu family was the culprit!"

"Two days ago, didn't that wicked youth beat someone at the Great Xiangguo Temple! It's spread all over the capital! But this wicked youth didn't expect to run into a tough nut, which is why he was ordered by the Emperor to study."

Listening to this young lady's words,

although Yu Yanran didn't say anything, she still scratched her eyebrows uncomfortably: This young lady had earned quite a bit of money from some pleasing embroidered paintings newly created by imitating Xu Zaijing's works!

Therefore, Yu Yanran leaned to Hai Chaoyun's ear with a guilty conscience and whispered: "Sister Chaoyun, what this sister said is wrong, and fortunately, we didn't invite the fifth sister of the Zhang family today, otherwise..."

Hai Chaoyun nodded with a smile and looked at the third young lady of the Shen family: "Third Sister, for these things, listening to both sides leads to clarity, while listening to one side leads to darkness. Sometimes it's better to inquire more."

Shen Hezhen nodded in agreement: "I heard from my father that when my brother gets married, he will invite the fifth young master of the Xu family to be the best man! It seems that the relatives of the Marquis of Zhennan that sister mentioned didn't say that?"

The third young lady of the Shen family looked incredulous and looked at the people who were speaking: "Ah? But, my relatives... alright! Hmm, my cousin Han Jiyun, the Marquis of Zhennan, never gossips about people."

"By the way, I heard at home that the second young master of the Gu family, the Marquis of Ningyuan, and the young Duke of the Duke of Qi's residence are all polite and studious. Have you sisters ever seen them?"

A young lady said: "Sister Shen, the two you mentioned are both classmates of that wicked youth you speak of!"

"Ah? Then they won't be led astray by that person, will they?"

Hearing this,

the official wives in the Tingxuan Pavilion all raised their round fans and laughed.

I don't know if they were laughing at the young lady's naivety or laughing at what she said.

"Sister, it's better to wait until you have met that 'wicked youth' once before speaking."

The laughter in the Tingxuan Pavilion grew louder.

"Oh my!"

A young lady exclaimed.

It turned out that after the young lady who spoke just now finished speaking, she whispered something to her close friend, and was pushed in shame and anger.

(End of chapter)